Maugham's novels and short stories have been widely adapted as dramas and movies, usually with commercial success. Although Maugham's attitude toward women is at best ungallant, he has been fortunate in the actresses eager to perform in his works. The short story "Rain" was the basis for a drama and three movies (1928, 1932, 1953). The role of Sadie Thompson has been well portrayed by Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford, and Rita Hayworth. As in the movie adaptations of his other short stories, it was necessary to lengthen and complicate the narrative somewhat, and the screenwriters solved this problem by expanding the roles of minor characters. In 1944, a musical based upon this story held the stage for only two months.